Humidity control module and humidity control apparatus

Abstract

A humidity control module, in which liquid absorbent exchanges air and moisture, reduces a temperature change in the liquid absorbent. A humidity control module includes a partition member and a heat transfer member. The partition member separates an air passage from an absorbent passage. The partition member is wholly or partially formed by a moisture permeable membrane. The liquid absorbent flowing through the absorbent passage exchanges the moisture with the air flowing through the air passage via the moisture permeable membrane. The heat transfer member is provided in the absorbent passage and surrounded by the liquid absorbent. A heat medium flowing through the heat transfer member exchanges heat with the liquid absorbent flowing through the absorbent passage.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A humidity control module for humidifying or dehumidifying air using liquid absorbent, the module comprising:
 a partition member wholly or partially formed by a moisture permeable membrane not allowing the liquid absorbent to permeate but allowing water vapor to permeate, the partition member separating an air passage through which the air flows, from an absorbent passage through which the liquid absorbent flows; and 
 a heat transfer member forming a heat medium passage through which a heat medium for heating or cooling flows, and disposed in the absorbent passage to allow the liquid absorbent flowing around the heat transfer member to exchange heat with the heat medium, wherein 
 the heat transfer member includes heat transfer tubes, and each of the heat transfer tubes is a flat tube having an internal space divided into a plurality of channels. 
 
     
     
       2. The humidity control module of  claim 1 , wherein
 in the partition member, the moisture permeable membrane includes a plurality of plane-like moisture permeable membranes arranged at predetermined intervals to face one another, 
 the air passage and the absorbent passage includes a plurality of air passages, and a plurality of absorbent passages, respectively, and 
 the air passages and the absorbent passages are alternately formed along alignment of the moisture permeable membranes. 
 
     
     
       3. The humidity control module of  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the heat transfer tubes is disposed between a pair of the moisture permeable membranes, which are adjacent with one of the absorbent passages interposed therebetween. 
 
     
     
       4. The humidity control module of  claim 3 , wherein
 the heat transfer member includes 
 the heat transfer tube including a plurality of heat transfer tubes, 
 a first header connected to one end of each of the heat transfer tubes, and 
 a second header connected to another end of each of the heat transfer tubes. 
 
     
     
       5. The humidity control module of  claim 4 , wherein
 the heat transfer member includes a plurality of heat transfer members, 
 in each of the heat transfer members, the plurality of heat transfer tubes are aligned in parallel to one another, 
 the plurality of heat transfer members face one another, and 
 in an adjacent pair of the heat transfer members, the heat transfer tubes of one of the heat transfer members and the heat transfer tubes of the other one of the heat transfer members are disposed in different ones of the absorbent passages. 
 
     
     
       6. A humidity control module for humidifying or dehumidifying air using liquid absorbent, the module comprising:
 a partition member wholly or partially formed by a moisture permeable membrane not allowing the liquid absorbent to permeate but allowing water vapor to permeate, the partition member separating an air passage through which the air flows, from an absorbent passage through which the liquid absorbent flows; and 
 a heat transfer member forming a heat medium passage through which a heat medium for heating or cooling flows, and disposed in the absorbent passage to allow the liquid absorbent flowing around the heat transfer member to exchange heat with the heat medium, wherein 
 the heat transfer member includes a heat transfer tube through which the heat medium flows, 
 the partition member surrounds the heat transfer tube, and 
 an inside of the partition member serves as the absorbent passage, and an outside of the partition member serves as the air passage. 
 
     
     
       7. The humidity control module of  claim 6 , wherein
 the heat transfer tube is in a winding form, and 
 the partition member is in a form winding along the heat transfer tube. 
 
     
     
       8. The humidity control module of  claim 6 , wherein
 the partition member is formed like a pipe extending along the heat transfer tube. 
 
     
     
       9. A humidity control apparatus comprising:
 the humidity control module of  claim 1 ; 
 an absorbent circuit connected to the absorbent passage of the humidity control module to supply the liquid absorbent to the absorbent passage; 
 a heat medium circuit connected to the heat medium passage of the humidity control module to supply the heat medium for heating or cooling to the heat medium passage; and 
 fans for supplying the air to the air passage of the humidity control module, wherein 
 the humidity control apparatus humidifies or dehumidifies the air flowing through the air passage of the humidity control module.